Published: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 2:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 2:10 p.m.

Deputies took a 48-year-old man taken into custody Monday night on five weapons charges, including carrying a concealed firearm illegally, after authorities were told he was converting semi-automatic weapons into automatic firearms.

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Charles Robert Lester, of Silver Springs Shores, was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he remained Tuesday afternoon in lieu of bonds totaling $16,750.

According to Marion County Sheriff's Office reports, Deputy Tiffany Warren was told that Lester was "building machine guns inside his home." The deputy was also told that Lester was known to carry firearms, including one in his pocket, and that he had threatened to kill anyone who talked about his weapons.

Warren was at Lester's home on Dogwood Trail Court when he drove up. She told him to slowly get out of the vehicle and raise his hands in the air. When he did so, Warren saw a gun in a holster on Lester's right side and saw a bulge in one pocket of his pants, which, through a pat down search, she discovered was a concealed firearm, according to the report.

Warren checked records and learned that Lester does not have a concealed weapons permit. She called for assistance from the agency's Tactical Investigations Unit.

Lester told the tactical investigator that the firearms he was carrying — a .40 caliber and a .22 caliber — were automatics, for which he did not have a concealed weapons permit.

The deputies requested a search warrant for Lester's home, which was granted. Inside, they discovered 16 weapons, five of which had been converted to fully automatic weapons, and drug paraphernalia including rolling papers and a glass pipe.

Lester told the deputies that he converts semi-automatic guns into automatic weapons. He said he does not have a license to purchase, produce or sell the weapons, but does have a license to do that kind of work.

The detectives checked his statement and found that Lester does not have a license to do such work.

So far, Lester faces six charges including carrying a concealed firearm; carrying a weapon openly; possession of a short barrel gun, rifle or machine gun; two counts of possession of automatic firearms; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<p>Deputies took a 48-year-old man taken into custody Monday night on five weapons charges, including carrying a concealed firearm illegally, after authorities were told he was converting semi-automatic weapons into automatic firearms.</p><p>Charles Robert Lester, of Silver Springs Shores, was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he remained Tuesday afternoon in lieu of bonds totaling $16,750.</p><p>According to Marion County Sheriff's Office reports, Deputy Tiffany Warren was told that Lester was "building machine guns inside his home." The deputy was also told that Lester was known to carry firearms, including one in his pocket, and that he had threatened to kill anyone who talked about his weapons.</p><p>Warren was at Lester's home on Dogwood Trail Court when he drove up. She told him to slowly get out of the vehicle and raise his hands in the air. When he did so, Warren saw a gun in a holster on Lester's right side and saw a bulge in one pocket of his pants, which, through a pat down search, she discovered was a concealed firearm, according to the report.</p><p>Warren checked records and learned that Lester does not have a concealed weapons permit. She called for assistance from the agency's Tactical Investigations Unit.</p><p>Lester told the tactical investigator that the firearms he was carrying — a .40 caliber and a .22 caliber — were automatics, for which he did not have a concealed weapons permit.</p><p>The deputies requested a search warrant for Lester's home, which was granted. Inside, they discovered 16 weapons, five of which had been converted to fully automatic weapons, and drug paraphernalia including rolling papers and a glass pipe.</p><p>Lester told the deputies that he converts semi-automatic guns into automatic weapons. He said he does not have a license to purchase, produce or sell the weapons, but does have a license to do that kind of work.</p><p>The detectives checked his statement and found that Lester does not have a license to do such work.</p><p>So far, Lester faces six charges including carrying a concealed firearm; carrying a weapon openly; possession of a short barrel gun, rifle or machine gun; two counts of possession of automatic firearms; and possession of drug paraphernalia.</p><p>Lester declined to comment.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>